The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has scheduled February 6, 2024, for the hearing of a petition challenging the ongoing ban on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter. The plea, initially presented in April, has faced multiple delays, including previous postponements on May 2 and June 11, 2024. However, the court accepted a miscellaneous application for an early hearing on November 22, 2024.
IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq, after reviewing the case, decided to schedule the hearing after the winter break, leading to the February date for the next steps. The case pertains to the ban imposed on X in February 2024, following intelligence reports, which the interior ministry later confirmed to the Sindh High Court. The government has justified the restriction of access to the platform, noting national security concerns rather than any intentions to curtail freedom of speech.
Since February 17, 2024, access to X has been limited across various regions of Pakistan, causing a significant disruption for users. The broader context of this issue includes Pakistan’s struggles with slow internet speeds. According to Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index, the country ranks in the bottom 12% globally for mobile and broadband internet speeds. As of October, Pakistan is ranked 100th out of 111 countries in mobile internet speeds and 141st out of 158 in broadband speeds.
Users have faced increasing difficulties, including slow connections, trouble downloading media on platforms like WhatsApp, and connectivity issues. The government’s growing restrictions on VPN usage—an essential tool for many Pakistanis to bypass such blocks—has also raised concerns about internet freedom in the country.
